Frog 1983

This screenprint of a frog was made by Andy Warhol, and it's all about simple, direct expression. You see that dominant red ground with a white and blue drawing on top—it's like Warhol was after a kind of immediate, unpretentious statement. I can imagine Warhol just going for it, not fussing too much, letting the image emerge through quick, intuitive gestures. It's all about the vibe. It's so off the cuff and immediate, it makes me think about de Kooning or Twombly, or how other artists play with casual and studied gestures, the art of appearing artless. The way he layers those lines, especially around the eyes and mouth, gives the frog a real sense of character, a kind of sly humor. It's so bold and graphic that it seems to want to jump off the surface. The way Warhol can create a whole world with so few marks...well, I'm inspired to go play in my studio right now.